#Space Physics & Nature

[sinfulsalutations]

*slides $500 in Monopoly money over*

Got any sub!Hunter and Dom!femreader smut in the back?

(you can ignore this if your requests are closed, I'm not sure if they're open right now)

⋆ ★ *ꜱʟᴏᴡʟʏ ꜱᴛᴜꜰꜰꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏɴᴇʏ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ᴘᴏᴄᴋᴇᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱʟɪᴅᴇꜱ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴄᴀɴᴏɴꜱ* ᴛʜɪꜱ ꜱᴜɪᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ? ᴀʟꜱᴏ, ᴍʏ ʀᴇQᴜᴇꜱᴛꜱ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴜꜱᴜᴀʟʟʏ ɪ’ᴅ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴅᴇʟᴇᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇꜱᴇ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴇɴᴛɪᴄɪɴɢ ᴏꜰ ᴀɴ ᴀꜱᴋ. ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴄᴀɴᴏɴꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ꜰɪɴᴇ :)

➼ ᴛʜɪꜱ ꜰɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴꜱ ɴꜱꜰᴡ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ 18+ ᴅɴɪ

Hunter is a keen lover who's always in tune with both his senses and yours, due to his heightened senses but also his natural instinct as a leader.

But when he finds himself in a rather submissive mind space, eagerly ready for you to take the lead, he lets those senses swallow him.

He still has his subconscious checking in to make sure it isn't too much, and if it ever is he'll tell you exactly that, but for the most part, he's letting all the sensations overtake him in the most pleasant way possible.

Speaking of his senses, depriving him of one thrills him in a way he can't explain. Blindfolding or tying him up forces him to solely focus on one sense at a time, amping it up to another level.

Enjoys it when you urge him on to do certain things; "Squeeze my hips. Yeah, just like that. Good." "Look up. Let me look into those gorgeous eyes. There he is." It genuinely makes him crumble in your grasp immediately.

Additionally, he'd never say this out loud (both because he doesn't know how to express it and because he hasn't truly realized it), but he likes soft pampering. Kisses along his jaw, massaging his shoulders as you grind on him, anything that makes him sigh and flutter his lashes. For once, it feels nice to just sit back and be doted on.

That doesn't mean he dislikes it when you fully take control, pin his hands over his head, bounce yourself up and down his cock, and rumble out filthy words into his ear. Tell him to just sit there and take it, be a good boy for you, and his chest is heaving.

You swear you've never seen him choke and stammer so much than when you take his cock in your mouth. He's a mess the moment you slip his blacks off and look up at him with that mischievous grin. You keep his hands away from your hair or body and instead urge him to place them over his head or grip onto the sheets-- "Let me have my fun, Hunter."

Edging is a dangerous game with Hunter. If he isn't in the right mind space or physical capacity, it could lead to a sensory overload and he'll have to tap out. But if it works does it work. You have to urge him to keep his thighs and hips from twitching and bucking up into you when you pepper kitten licks over his length and run the tops of your fingers over his balls. You'll never hear him more depraved than when he gasps out "Mesh'la, I'm so-- fuck, please--"

ragu list: @starstofillmydream @pb-jellybeans @corrieguards @badbatchbabe @ladytano420 @jediknightjana @sleepycreativewriter @shinyshayminflower @thebahdbitch @secondaryrealm @nobody-expects-the-inquisitorius @kimiheartblade @followthepurrgil @starrylothcat @sev-on-kamino @aconstructofamind @padawancat97 @littlemissmanga @starqueensthings @anxiouspineapple99 @freesia-writes @wings-and-beskar @clio3kantarella @secretthegriffin @523rdrebel @dystopicjumpsuit @sunshinesdaydream @clonemedickix @andrakass2 @jesjestraverse @crosshairlovebot @wizardofrozz @dangraccoon @lickylickylicky @urmomsmattress @jedi-hawkins @who-would-want-a-broken-heart @cw80831 @ladyzirkonia @multi-fan-dom-madness @moonlightwarriorqueen @eyeluvmusic21 @mythical-illustrator @a-single-tulip

[jadenoryuu]

Phandom Holiday Truce Time!

(For maximum experience, please turn the light mode on.)

Sorry for keeping you waiting, @raaorqtpbpdy here's your @phandomholidaytruce gift!

When I saw the prompts "Danny-Wes Role Swap", comboed with the No One Knows AU, Creepy Cryptid Danny and your mention about the Ghost King Danny trope only used in a significant way, the gif "I have a MIGHTY need!" started playing in a loop, so here's the bg for this mini-comic.

Before the Portal Accident, Wes and Danny were friends. Not as close as Danny and Tucker, but they sometimes hung out when the Fentons were too busy to entertain Wes' interest in the occult.

My boy Wes Weston has also a side hobby/obsession with basket and it all started since he watched for the first time Space Jam. (It doesn't help that I headcanon Amity Park in Illinois, which means Chicago Bulls.)

(So he plays basket because His Airness does so and because MJ was involved and interacted with the embodiment of a visual novel. Talk about supernatural!)

(Yes, I'm saying that crossovers between animated and physical world can count as a supernatural and ghost-related event.)

All of this premise was to introduce the personalized jumpsuit that the Fentons made for Wes with the colors and accessories of the Chicago Bulls.

(Jack made a mistake with the number and stitched only the "2", so once Wes became a halfa, he added the "3" with marker and later learned to shapeshift enough to change some of the inverted colors of the jumpsuit. Originally it was white with red inserts, the accident made it black with blue inserts, then the shapeshift finally made it black with red inserts.)

Since it's a No One Knows AU, Wes was alone when the accident happened, but being the smart bean he is, no one discovered that he's a halfa until Danny, much like Jazz in canon, discovers Wes' double nature after stalking investigating him.

Like sister, like brother, Danny doesn't say anything to Wes about knowing, but here and then he assists (in the shadows) Wes in ghost wrangling.

Due to living above the active portal and Maddie experimenting with ectoplasm while pregnant, Jazz and Danny are liminal, the latter more than the former. (Thus, Danny becomes the creepy cryptid of Amity Park.)

Even if Danny isn't a halfa, Vlad still tries his scheme of stealing the Crown of Fire and the Ring of Rage to obtain enough power to defeat Wes' hero persona (who Vlad believes is a full ghost).

Much akin the Reign Storm episode, Amity ends in the Ghost Zone, but Wes gets stuck fighting "alone" the army (the Fentons and a reluctant Plasmius do the same on another front after the Ecto-suit is deemed a failure).

While his parents are out fighting, Danny sneaks in the lab and fixes the Ecto-suit (my boy is as much as a genius as his family, after all), then goes to challenge Pariah.

Due to his liminality, after the victory, Danny IS eligible for the Throne, so he becomes the King. (He doesn't discover this immediately, but when the Observants start bothering him, he gets the explanation.)

So, after declaring Amity Park Wes' (and his) Haunt and a No Fight Zone, the ghost attacks practically stop, leaving Wes on edge, because he doesn't know about the Law.

Thus, we're back to this mini-comic! Danny decides to finally reveal both that he knows Wes is a halfa and that he's the Ghost King, but where would be the fun if he didn't mess with Wes a bit? So he amps his creepy factor and plays a Yandere act (he isn't, he's doing so just for the prank. As a matter of fact, 3-5 seconds after the last declaration, he bursts out cackling at Wes appropriate horrified face, then after moving to a more private place -a roof-, Danny explains everything.)

Does this became a UFS? I like to think so, but you're free to decide.

I'm adding the non transparent versions under for those without the light mode:

[talonabraxas]

Venus in Sagittarius Dec 29 – Jan 23

Dec 29, 2023 – Jan 23, 2024

Venus: goddess of art, romance, pleasure, and beauty. Venus speaks to the heart. In Sagittarius, the heart can finally breathe, soar, run wild. Everything unfolds quickly in Sagittarius. This archetype invites space, freedom, adventure, and spontaneity.

This is all very welcome after swimming with Venus in Scorpio. With Venus in Scorpio, we often scramble to remain in control when things start to feel less than perfect in our relationships. Inevitably we learn that we cannot force or manipulate the path. Instead Scorpio teaches agency and self-empowerment. I hope you’re feeling stronger and sexier. We are learning to strike a balance between power and vulnerability.

That ferocious need we feel, the need to love another, to have them as our own, that hotblooded passion? It’s an addiction and obsession, this delicious desire which keeps us awake at night. And ultimately it begets more pain and chaos because it is channeled into other rather than Self. Turn it to gold inside you, let it fuel the metamorphosis. It is worth asking: what would happen if I “lost control”? What would that really look like? We need to look at our patterns, truly, and then break the fuck out of them. Venus in Scorpio is ultimately about self-discovery rather than sex or lust. The passion (complication/chaos!) we seek in interpersonal relationships is really intended for self-love.

Let the healing begin! It’s time to ascend with Venus to sparkling Sagittarian skies. This transit will carry us blissfully into the new year 2024. With Venus in Sagittarius, the heart glows like a joyful bonfire. This is an exuberant, festive cycle. Sagittarius the Centaur is spirited and vibrant, helping us move forward and close the scorpion chapter. No need to dwell in pain or resentment anymore. We can embrace the winter holiday season with inner warmth and optimism.

There are a few challenges waiting for us here, too. It is wise to remember that Sagittarius belongs to the fire element and shares the same traits as Aries and Leo: impatience, restlessness, impulsiveness. When life feels like too much, Sagittarius quickly boils over – or looks the other way.

Sagittarius enjoys being so light and carefree that dark or heavy things get overlooked on purpose. This is problematic when a situation calls for an assertive response or when something important needs to be finished. Sagittarius can be flighty and avoidant. He hates confrontation and discord. He just wants to dance in his rose-colored glasses all night long.

In our relationships we just need to slow down a little and inhale some fiery courage. Let’s dance in place for just a moment to see it all, acknowledge the whole. And then we can race off again into the rainbow disco star kingdom see you there! And happy new year!

Heads up: Mercury will still be retrograde for the first 4 days of this transit.

Jan 1: Last day of Mercury Retrograde + Venus square Saturn in Pisces. Though you might be feeling really amped to start the New Year 2024 off on the right foot, a square to Saturn makes us feel lazy and averse to routine. The key is to just go with it.

Jan 19: Venus square Neptune in Pisces + Mercury in Capricorn trine Jupiter in Taurus. Exhaustion & physical discomfort. Not a good time to socialize or go out. This Neptunian square may also coincide with natural disasters like floods or heavy rains. The trine between Mercury and Jupiter should bring some levity, however.

Jan 20: 1st day of Aquarius Season + Pluto returns to Aquarius! Craaaaazy day, expect the unexpected.

This transit is an especially favorable time for natal Sagittarians, as well as Aries, Libra, Leo, and Aquarius. If you were born with Venus in Sagittarius, this is your Venus Return.

[paintcloset]

Plus Plan 2, Electricity Doesn't Make Noise

I realized recently I actually enjoy learning new things. I like thinking and exploring concepts if they intrest me. And I like researching. I started realizing this when writing the assignment for theory about the post soviet influence of Kazakhstan's contemporary art, but due to the limited word count, I didn't have enough space to spread my theoretical writing wings.

On my first flight to make it back to Rotterdam, I started rewatching Evangelion, yes the anime, and remembered how much I like the mysticism of seemingly advanced technology. Same reason for why I liked Akira's aesthetic. When you don't know how a computer works, or in this case a futuristic mecha flesh robot, it may as well be magic. The lines blur when you don't know enough to understand.

Rewatching Evangelion reminded me of the playlist I made years ago, "Shinji's mental breakdown in the cockpit", which is mostly house/electronic music. Music which I associate with feverish tech, unstable electronics as well as with technological mysticism. Not knowing how it work but still going along with it. Very similar to the main character, Shinji, just going along with piloting the giant mecha robot because it's easier to along with what you're told to do. The anime also explores themes of human connection, how we yearn for it yet avoid it out of fear of pain, the hedgehog theory ect.

But where I'm going with this tangent, is that the digital music made me think of visuals that I associate with the sounds that I hear.

None of the following statements are backed up by science that I know of.

Most things make sound. Natural (vs Manmade) objects have sounds that they are predisposition to make certain noise this can be evaluated/ calculated with a visual analysis. Sound doesn't equal Visual, but when you see a piano, you associate it with the sound it makes. You can knock on a table and predict the sound it makes. Physical music can be quite intuitive to make and play and i think also listen to.

But what about digital sound? Digital instruments and digital songs? And how do these unnatural sounds become associated with certain visuals? I feel a certain level of uncertainty when staring into FL Studio, and this feeling has been following since I first got it when I was 13. What do all the commands mean and buttons do? There's no intuition that can help you in a lawless technological mind field.

So I decided for plus weeks I just want to continue researching, thinking, learning and writing about the connections between digital sounds, their associations with visuals. I'm starting from roughly learning about music theory. I played the piano for 7 years and never learned how to it works lol so that would be a nice gap in my knowledge to fill. I will be following the following course:

Understanding Basic Music Theory | Open Textbooks for Hong Kong

It also covers the physics aspects of why music musics which I'm also interested in, and I think it will help me know which aspects to further research to answer my questions. I like learning about physics, i just never had any good teachers to get me interested or teach me anything about it. Fuck you middle school and high school physics teachers!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe I would have been an astrophysicist if not for your dumb fucking asses that don't know how to teach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a very deep and personal grudge towards physics teachers.

Oh yeah I'm also being motivated to do more music related things because I got my first guitar that mine and mine only!! And it's a silent guitar! Which is an electric guitar that you can still play without an amp or headphones and hear it very lightly

I don't know how electric guitars works but I wanna know more cus I love how they sound and I love my new guitar

I don't really know where all of this investigation will lead me but it's something that's grasping my attention and curiosity so I just want to roll with it and see where the research will take me !

physics

[thecrazyworldbuilder]

I have this WIP setting about mechas which I am not being hyperfixated about but I do kinda like. It is unnamed for now but here's the introduction:

Alright so some work on the Mecha Project

The entire story is happening on an Earth-like planet. Turns out, biology is pretty rigid and Earth ain't such a unique snowflake as we thought.

Into the faaar g'damn future we send a stasis ship there, and arrive to a peaceful, unpopulated by sentient life planet. Name's pending but I think of something like New [insert name].

The planet is ruled by the United Sol Alliance (USA, on purpose) and is now beginning to build an eco-friendly high-tech civilization. Generations have passed but, due to a part of the huge information tanks being damaged, a part of Earth history and a lot of physics/inventions catalogues are lost, thus rendering humans on the new planet a bit uneducated on some matters.

The three continents of the planet are populated and everything is pretty much utopian. Clean air, alien life is quite similar to Earth's (four legs, fur, skin, general biology), trees also use chlorophyll but are toxic due to other not so pleasant chemicals, though it ain't much of a problem.

Then the Invasion began.

From outer space, unpredicted, came hard to spot ships with little to no electronics or energetic signature. Crashing on the surface, they started letting out the Kaiju.

These creatures are called just that - Kaiju - in tribute to the old Earth fiction. The thing though is that they aren't natural creatures; Engineered by some other species, they are living war machines meant to consume genetics of other species and use them for creation of new and newer lifeforms. This Kaiju Horde instantly becomes a threat to the human colony.

The first months of the invasion things were only heating up. Some human cities were destroyed, population slain. In return, alien motherships were targeted by hardcore artillery. But while humans were great in the distanced combat, easily sniping down huge beasts with absolutely wild railgun tech, they were helpless up close.

The kaiju could easily scale the distance between them and the human forces, beginning bloodshed in close quarters combat. Huge, muscular beasts perfected to destroy any creature or tech, they succeeded in putting down entire platoons of the USA (actually I might rethink that name).

Then there came a solution, seemingly out of nowhere. During one of the fights, a construction worker beat the beast to pulp using a non-battle mech meant for moving weights. Instantly labeled hero, the dude inspired the human forces to start the creation of war mechs.

So the arming race began. The mechs were slow as shit when on manual control, so they had to invest into neural linking. The PHIL link (Personal Helmet Infolink) was created and was truly still a complete mess. It was sensitive to any thought of the user, may you think of lemons or steamed hams, the helmet would try to interpret commands even when it doesn't have to and had bad lag which proved lethal.

Next went the RING, AMP-1 and AMP-2 links. Those were proven superior to both PHIL and manual.

The mech tech itself improved over the years. Beginning with bulky hardbodies, it evolved into sleek and agile softbodies which were highly capable of close quarter combat. Sooner or later, the profession of a mech pilot became very useful and high-paying.

For now, the human colonies on the three continents are split, but the times are a bit more easy on the front. The kaiju motherships (which act as factories) are far in the land, in the sectors beyond reach, and fortifications are built to hold them back.

That's attabout it. Here's a repost of the link and mech types:

MECH TYPES Softbody S Armored Softbody AS Clam C Hardbody H Semisoftbody SS

LINK TYPES RING (Redirecting Implanted Neural Gate) AMP-1 (Amputee Mech Personel Type 1) AMP-2 (Amputee Mech Personel Type 2) PHIL (Personal Helmet Infolink) Manual

An interesting parameter in mechs is the (neural) feedback.

It is the proprioception of the driver with the mech, the feeling of the mech's body and where it's bodyparts are. Manual mechs have no proprioception, so do the PHIL ones on the older models (new models at least provide a projection of the mech's pose for the driver to reference from).

RING has the best feedback sensitivity meaning the driver with a RING link make best DES and SPD (speed) builds. AMP-1 and AMP-2 are both roughly equal in feedback sensitivity, with AMP-2 being bit better due  to larger portions of the driver's limbs being "phantom", thus linked with the mech. PHIL is completely dogshit in providing feedback as mentioned before, and manual is equal to sitting in a tank and wondering what was that noise that just hit the left side of the hull. Yet feedback isn't tied to the link type but the mech type.

A hardbody mech has little to no feedback. It does count the angles under which the joints are bent and all that but those sensors can be easily broken, giving wrong info or none at all.

A softbody mech is best in providing feedback. Literally having a neural mesh that has sensitivity and allows the drivers to feel "touch", it also provides best proprioception and agility.

Other mech types are varying in feedback providing.

[psylockexs]

Many hands, lighter work, more sparks?

Since Ashley had made a habit of popping into Symphony whenever she could, Tae offered her to help with the renovations. It was obvious the lass had never gotten to see the place before, so why not take her hopes a step further and have her actually put the finishing touches to it.

This was quite a positive outcome for everyone. Boss man gets the place ready to open, Ash got to play with the hi-tech computer Mikhail recommended 😆. Who knew holo pcs were just as effective as physical ones? Besides, it would make for a good secret screen if anyone snuck into the office. We do not need to show everyone the purchase logs.

There were still some things that needed tweaking but that was less important than the main decor. So with a few games under her belt, she got back to helping Tae out with stuff.

Ash: Hm, this purple is too much of a contrast. Damn, I love it. Meh, I can wear it for another occasion. she looks up as Tae walks over

Tae: How did you find the computer?

Ash: Really good choice actually. It needs some tweaks but I need some time to think about it.

Tae: Ok, we'll circle back to that. What do you think about the main space? It's mainly fine, but it's missing some details.

Ash: Ok. Tables need to change. Candles need to be different so that they don't snag on glasses and clothes. The bar could be different, though it's a shame we've limited space to work with. Oh, posters! I bought a small stack this week. I was gonna put it up in a tattoo place but I think it'll be better here.

Tae: Huh, a mix of the old and new. Alright. Let's get to it.

And so the hard work began for the next 5 days!

https://on.soundcloud.com/IrbhMCImSBnybvugAm

'Mentioned the pc needs some tweaks. What we looking at?'

'Gonna need locks to keep info hidden, not your normal stuff. Needs to be the best on the market. Probably something from the not-so-legal side. Everyone's using it so...'

'We can work with that. What else?'

'You'll need a public wifi hotspot, but not a truly public one. You'd have to set up a subnet that provides internet signal but doesn't expose people's data and all that. I'd offer to help but I've only made subnets for one computer.'

'I know someone who can take care of that.'

With the renovations almost complete, Lorelei came by to see how it was going. Her task was to find suppliers for the materials and decor. All the skills she used while under Maria's thumb proved to also be useful for normal shopping 🤭.

It took everything in Ashley's being not to yelp in awe when she saw Lore. She'd seen purple hair before, but was that dye or natural?! Was that really eyeshadow? There were rumors of certain magic users whose eyes are always dark and Ash assumed they all looked kinda weird. But this was kinda stylish?! What kind of box had Ash opened 🤭...

That purple hair sure is natural. It feels so soft! Just don't scream and embarrass yourself. She could probably see that Ash was a fan of supers, anyway. Well, that was Ash's train of thought until she felt Lore guide her near one of the tables. Tae went to check the amp on stage and played a tune in the background to help with that. Perfect to see who this new chick was 😈.

Ash: So ummm...what's your thing? All the purple and stuff...is it kinda shadowy or something?

Lore: Mmhmm. Life and shadows. I thought it was only related to death but it seems there's a lot I don't know yet.

Ash: That is...ugh I'm making myself look foolish.

Lore: Heheh 😈.

Ash: Can you control it?

Lore: Oh yeah. I can still touch people and all that. If I couldn't, well I wouldn't be here, would I?

Maybe Lore might know something about dreams after meeting someone 🤔. That's if she doesn't realise who Ash is really talking about...

Ash: Hey umm...can I ask something inappropriate?

Lore: Surprise me.

Ash: Do you guys have some kind of aura around you? Like, you go somewhere and people just like you...or....or uh 😅...

Lore: Loves us? 😈

Ash: Yeah! Or just lucky genes for some of you?

Lore: Well let me put it like this. Even the most unattractive among us have partners. It's just a thing with us, but no doubt some are luckier than others 🫦.

Lore knew where this was going... 🤭

Ash: Are there powers that can uh, enhance that? Make it more potent than normal?

Lore: Catch my boyfriends while they're chatting among themselves and they might show you a good time. 😈

Ash: Wait...boyfriends? They're...I thought you and them were just friends!

Lore: Friends that share hearts, minds and bodies. Not totally wrong there 🫦.

Hoping that Tae wasn't overhearing their conversation, Ashley scooted a little closer to Lore.

Ash: Is this a normal thing with you guys? Supers, I mean.

Lore: I'll say it like this. I'm sure you've heard of lycans. Why do you think they always have such large packs?

Ash:...oh 😊...

Lore: Multiple mates or one mate they're so compatible with they can't keep their hands off each other. People say there's more to life than that, but I say it's part and parcel 😈.

Ash: That's very interesting 😅...

Lore: And now it's my turn, Ashley 😏.

Ash hoped Lore hadn't caught on. She couldn't read minds, right? Surely 😅...

Lore slipped her hand onto Ash's back and pulled her a tad closer.

Ash: Whoa!!!

Lore: You closed your eyes and were sure you were asleep. Then you felt those hot marks on your neck, hm?

Ash: I have no idea what you mean 😅...

Lore: lowers her voice You know it was a dream but it felt so real, didn't it? 😈

Ash: Uh... 😊...

Lore: I'm a witch, Ashley. I know you dreamt about Tae, didn't you? 🫦

Ash: How did you know...?

Another yank in her back 😆

Lore: Do you really think I don't dream the same, hm?

Ash: But you're around each other all the time, no?

Lore: Doesn't mean you can't have a little fantasy here and there 😈.

Ash: Please don't be mad... 😅.

Lore: Ahahaha! I'm not a jealous woman, Ash. What's the point in being mad?

Ash: Well...you're kinda holding my back in a death grip 😊...

Lore: Want me to let you fall to the hard ground?

Ash: Definitely not! 🤭

With work done for the day, Ash bid the other two farewell and headed home, her cheeks as red as her hair 🤭. Tae turned around to see two purple eyes staring into him 😆.

Lore: Hm. Now I'm seeing the full picture of you.

Tae: That's the second time I'm hearing that in two days 😈.

Lore: Either you kept to yourself because you were different or...

Tae: Or...?

Lore: You really were a little heartbreaker. 10 minutes and now she comes around to get her fix. Don't even deny it 🫦.

Tae: I wasn't going to.

Lore: I like her, though. She's cute. Eager. Not afraid of our world.

Tae: I agree. Her brother might not be open minded but at least she's easy to talk to.

Lore: She's very skilled, too. Might be nice to have her around here if she wants.

As she said that, Lore winked before going to check the office out. My my, Ashley. What box have you opened 🤭...

[thebandcampdiaries]

The Village Prairie present: Before the Devil

Kansas City alt-country group The Village Prairie released its highly anticipated second full-length album, “Before the Devil,” on May 13. The new project brings nine original songs that mix modern Americana with the raw edge of red dirt country, and a very clear-cut modern sound that highlights the nuances of each player involved in these sessions.

The record follows the band’s 2022 debut and shows a clear line to its musical heroes such as Drive-By Truckers, Turnpike Troubadours, The Hold Steady, The Jayhawks, and Jason Isbell, only to mention a few. Listeners will be greeted by beautifully recorded guitars, crisp drums, open-road stories, and plain-spoken lyrics set against Midwestern rhythms. The album begins with the song Shovel, which immediately welcomes the listener in with a fantastic vintage-inspired guitar sound reminiscent of blues rock. The track is soaring and extremely dynamic, with a tone reminiscent of an old combo amp like a Supro or Valco, dimed in order to saturate in a very pleasing way. The bluesy lick soon gives way to the entire band arrangement, highlighting the huge dynamic interplay between the musicians in the band. The acoustic guitar and the organ add to the layers of harmony and melody that make the song so special. The vocals come in at about 43 seconds, immediately bringing some Americana warmth to the arrangement and adding a catchy yet expressive and personal vibe to the song.

There are so many incredible highlights on this record, but the fourth song, Before the Devil, is certainly a notable moment. The song begins with a stunning ambient soundscape, which adds a grand, almost solemn element to the mix. The track slowly morphs into a minimalistic acoustic ballad with emotional and honest lyrics accompanied by hypnotic guitar arpeggios.

The song Shut It Viki offers a different side to the band's creativity. This is a fast-paced alt-country stomper, and it features brushed snares, banjos, and a playful tone that creates a nice element of variety within the album. From folk rock anthems to understated ballads to alt-country tunes, anything goes here. The album closer, Paydirt, features beautiful brushed snare sounds with a three-quarter time signature and a classic folk guitar rhythm. This is a timeless track and a great example of how the band combines classic tones and influences with a very crisp modern sound and approach to production. The Village Prairie have already proven their worth as a live act on multiple occasions. The band formed in 2018 and has become a steady name in local clubs due to their infectious energy and extremely compelling sets. The current lineup is songwriter and vocalist Kyle Aaron, lead guitarist Dan Kiddle, drummer Tony Batenhorst, singer Nicki White, keyboard player Leo Johns, violinist Joanna Metsker, and bassist Joe Mentesana. Each member recorded on “Before the Devil,” giving the album a full band feel that’s natural and organic.

“Shovel,” the first single, opens the record with a driving beat and vivid images of hard labor and hope. Other tracks include “93,” “Jasper County Chain,” the title song “Before the Devil,” “Desert Rose,” “Avondale,” “Billionaires in Space,” “Shut It Vicky,” and “Paydirt.” All songs were written by Aaron with support from the group.

Throughout the album the lyrics visit rail towns, dim bars, and fast-spreading suburbs. Characters weigh quick money against quiet peace. The music keeps a relaxed tempo yet leaves space for sharp lead lines and mournful violin fills. The balance makes the record fit for both weekend drives and late-night listening.

“Before the Devil” is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. Fans who want a physical copy can pick up CDs at upcoming shows or order through the band’s website. Live performance remains central to the group’s identity. Several hometown dates are set for the summer. On Wednesday, May 28, The Village Prairie will play The Early Show presented by 90.9 The Bridge at Boulevard Tours and Rec Center. On Friday, June 13, the band heads to Lemonade Park. The following week on Friday, June 20, the group will perform at The Davenport Pub, and on Friday, July 18, it will visit Northside Social.

Find out more about The Village Prairie and check out “Before the Devil,” which is currently available on Spotify, Youtube Music, Apple Music, and all other major digital music streaming services out there.

[creativelabs111]

Everything You Need to Know About Super X-Fi and Its Groundbreaking 3D Sound Technology

Have you heard about Super X-Fi and wondered how it actually revolutionizes headphone audio? Creative Labs is proud to be the innovator behind Super X-Fi — an award-winning 3D audio technology that brings cinematic surround sound directly into your headphones. Whether you're a gamer, music lover, or film buff, this audio breakthrough changes the way you hear and feel sound.

What Makes Super X-Fi Different?

Unlike traditional headphone audio that feels confined to your head, Super X-Fi delivers spatial sound that surrounds you — as if you're in a live concert hall or a movie theater. The technology uses artificial intelligence to map your unique ear and head shape, then applies that personalized profile to your audio. The result? An ultra-realistic soundstage that replicates the experience of a high-end multi-speaker system.

Super X-Fi doesn’t just add reverb or simulate space; it completely redefines the physics of how sound interacts with your ears. You’ll hear instruments as if they’re placed in front of you, voices with natural depth, and ambient sounds coming from behind and around — all through a standard pair of headphones.

How It Works

The magic behind Super X-Fi starts with personalization. Using the SXFI app, you take pictures of your ears and face. These images are analyzed by AI to create your individualized audio holography profile. From there, the Super X-Fi processor — built into compatible devices — uses this profile to remix any stereo or 5.1 audio into a lifelike 3D format.

This process is done in real time and works across music, movies, games, and even voice calls. It’s an all-encompassing upgrade that enhances the audio fidelity of everything you listen to.

Applications for Music, Movies, and Gaming

With music, Super X-Fi delivers a concert-like experience that captures the detail and emotion of live performances. For movies, it replicates a cinematic soundscape that pulls you into the story. And in gaming, Super X-Fi provides a competitive edge by delivering accurate spatial awareness — so you can hear every footstep, reload, and explosion exactly where it’s happening.

Whether you're on a PC, gaming console, or mobile device, Creative Labs has integrated Super X-Fi into products like the SXFI AMP, SXFI AIR headphones, and Sound Blaster cards — so you can enjoy the technology in any scenario.

Why Choose Super X-Fi?

If you're tired of flat, in-your-head sound and crave a more immersive, dynamic listening experience, Super X-Fi is your answer. Developed by Creative Labs after years of audio research, this technology has received multiple CES Innovation Awards and glowing reviews from audiophiles around the world.

Super X-Fi isn’t just a new way to listen — it's a better way to experience audio altogether.

Ready to Transform Your Sound?

Step into the future of personal audio with Super X-Fi by Creative Labs. Visit our official website to explore Super X-Fi-enabled devices and see how 3D sound can elevate your favorite entertainment. Once you hear the difference, you'll never want to go back to ordinary headphone audio. Discover Super X-Fi today and transform the way you listen.

[couplescounselingfranklintn]

Emotionally Focused Therapy: It Pays To Dig Deeper

In a relationship, a recurring pattern of minor misunderstandings can lead to big ruptures, according to Barbara Wyer, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist who provides couples counseling in Franklin, TN. But it is rarely the seemingly obvious issues that are truly the problem. This is where Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) can help.

What is Emotionally Focused Therapy?

At its core, EFT is a form of psychotherapy that helps couples improve their relationship by working to strengthen their emotional bonds. Based on attachment theory, EFT teaches couples how to identify recurring negative patterns to better understand underlying insecurities.

Unlike other forms of therapy, which may focus on problem-solving or improving communication skills, EFT goes deeper with the goal of helping couples create secure attachment bonds that foster empathy and understanding. Through her couples counseling practice in Franklin, TN, Barbara Wyer often takes on the role of a guide to help couples identify their underlying needs and associated emotional responses.

Who needs EFT?

All couples can benefit from being better equipped to understand their partner's underlying emotional needs. But EFT is especially valuable to those who find themselves caught in the trap of a recurring pattern of emotional escalation and conflict that threatens the security of their relationship.

Let’s look at an example of a situation that might indicate a larger problem.

Partner #1 walks into the bathroom to find partner #2’s laundry in a pile next to the tub. Partner #1 has just cleaned the bathroom and views this as an uncaring disregard for the effort put into cleaning their communal space. Deep down, the issue is not the laundry but partner #1’s telling themself that they do not matter to partner #2.

Partner #1 creates an inner narrative to make sense of the situation – their partner is selfish, insensitive, doesn't care, etc. They may respond to the perceived slight in an unhealthy way, such as the silent treatment or blowing up without addressing the issue.

In reality, partner #2 may have no idea they did something to trigger partner #1. Maybe they were simply in a big hurry to get out the door and make it to work on time. While it is true that the offending partner could have taken the time to put their dirty laundry away properly, it is the way the partner #1 makes meaning of the action (they don't care, I don't matter, I cannot depend on them) that is the root problem to be addressed.

Pursuers And Withdrawers

EFT therapists have identified several recurring patterns in clients seeking couples counseling in Franklin, TN. The most common is a relationship where one partner can be described as a pursuer and the other as a withdrawer.

A pursuer is the partner that is usually the one who wants to "talk about it now" vs. later. Their need to resolve the problem to restore physical and emotional connection leads them to lean into the conflict in an effort to reconnect and make things right. If this attempt is thwarted, they might present as frustrated, anxious, and even angry – attempting to force their partner to reengage.

The withdrawer on the other hand is the more conflict avoidant one. Withdrawers may struggle with identifying and expressing their emotions. They tell themselves that leaning into the conflict will quite possibly make things worse. Being pursued or pressured makes them feel overwhelmed and their response may be to "flee" or shut out their partner.

This leads to a distressing cycle; when the pursuing partner does what they do (protest/pursue), the withdrawing partner feels emotionally threatened and naturally responds in an effort to protect self/relationship. This sends a message to the pursuer that they don't matter, aren't being heard, and that they need to amp up the emotional volume to get their message across. And the more they do what they do, the more their partner does what they do – both longing for the same thing (secure emotional connection) but getting the opposite of what they want.

Is Emotionally Focused Therapy Right For You?

In her work with couples counseling in Franklin, TN, Barbara Wyer explains that there is no one-size-fits-all process that works for everyone. However, the EFT evidence-based model has proven to be extremely successful in supporting couples who want to de-escalate distressing pursue/withdraw cycles in order to increase emotional intimacy, communication, and connection.

[Note: Emotionally Focused Therapy is not recommended when there is an active addiction or ongoing affair.]

[characterdelights]

Amelia "Amy" Porter

Occupation: Exchange Student / Cheerleading Club

Birthday: December 10th

Zodiac: Sagittarius

Height: 5'6"

Weight: 140lbs

Eye Color: Blue

Hair Color: Blonde

About/Background

An exchange student from America, Amelia "Amy" Porter embodies the proud and bombastic image of her home. It's no secret that she comes from a more well-off family as she never seems to be left wanting for anything as she overindulges in the culture she's come to. Fortunately, she has the personality and the education to ensure that she thrives in just about any environment she finds herself in.

Apparently, her decision to study abroad came from a rather swift decision, a thought that she ended up driving the whole nine yards. Not that anyone could tell as she still put in the necessary time and efforts to know the basics of her host country and its language.

[Persona Verse]

Amy's Persona is a reflection of her good fortune and array of opportunities that have entered her life. After having confronted her desire to runaway from her everyday life in the search of some kind of thrill or change, she awoke to her Persona, Adonis, which evolves into Saturnus.

[JJBA Verse]

While abroad, Amelia awoke the power of her Stand, MR. BIG, a rifle resembling an American-made and scoped M1917 Enfield. She isn't entirely sure what this weapon's purpose is or why she is able to call it to her side, but she figures the reason will make itself known eventually. For now, she simply enjoys playing with summoning and unsummoning it.

Personality

Everything's bigger in America, and that includes personality! Amy makes it no secret how outgoing she is, mingling with the various social groups in her school as naturally as a fish swims through water. She somehow has been invited to almost every event as she appears throughout the school, engaging in different activities, a guaranteed find for any groups looking for volunteers.

If the echoing laughter of her classmates and herself don't give away her location, then the volume at which she speaks will. For better or for worse, she makes no effort to speak softly as her other classmates, preferring to stick to her guns and upbringing. Likewise, she does not share the same sense of personal space as her fellow classmates, often throwing an arm around someone's shoulder or slapping them on the back.

Despite her friendliness and her proactive approach to situations, Amelia has a temper issue that often rises whenever she grows frustrated. her spontaneous nature doesn't complement it either as she has trouble containing her fire once its lit.

Abilities

Amy is about average across the board when it comes to her physical abilities. She's pretty intelligent, even if her carefree attitude does hint at it.

[Persona Verse]

Amy's Persona, Saturnus, specializes in raging hot spells! On top of the standard fire attacks, breaks, and amps, her persona also specializes in debuffs.

[JJBA Verse]

Her Stand, MR. BIG, specializes in ranged combat and functions near identical to the gun it's modeled after. The Stand has the ability to change the type of ammunition loaded (fire, electricity, ice, wind, etc) in order to target weaknesses or spread debilitating ailments.

[chorusfm]

The Eyebrows

Recently I was able to catch up with Charlotte, North Carolina-based power pop band, The Eyebrows, to discuss their latest album called Double Take. The Eyebrows are singer-songwriter, producer, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist Jay Garrigan, bassist and vocalist Darrin Gray, and drummer and multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lynch. In this interview, I asked the band about what went into the writing/recording process for Double Take, how they approach building out their setlists for tours, and much more. Double Take released on April 19th, and there are still a few physical options of the record at the band’s store here. Where did the album title of Double Take come from? What’s the significance of the title as it relates to these songs? On one hand, I feel that my life is the definition of a double take, which is a surprised, second look at a person or situation whose significance had not been completely grasped at first. I’ve often asked myself why this is. The title Double Take also describes the dual nature of our latest album, a direct result of an innovative approach to recording that Mitch Easter inspired. This album features each song in two distinct versions: one polished and produced by Mitch in the studio, capturing the rocktastic essence of our sound only in the way someone as talented and artistic as Mitch can, and another raw, vibrant version that I recorded & mixed myself in our practice space, echoing the mid-fi and lo-fi aesthetics of bands like early REM, GBV, and Suicide that I deeply admire. This approach not only showcases our versatility as an imaginative studio and visceral, live band, but also challenges listeners to reconsider our music through different sonic perspectives & palettes, highlighting how varied production styles can alter the perception of the same song. How did the process of recording this LP with Mitch Easter go? Any vivid memories from the studio sessions? As far as memories go, we were absolutely buzzing as The Baseball Project just finished tracking and mixing their latest album with Mitch right before we started to track our album. To be literally standing right where our heroes Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Scott McCaughey, Steve Wynn and Linda Pitmon were was awe-inspiring, and we hoped to catch a ride on a glimmer of their musical mojo. REM was very formative upon younger versions of myself and drummist Shawn Lynch. In the early 90s, Mike Mills once said he wanted to put his two cents into anything I do, and I stupidly lost his phone number. Maybe he will do a double take at some future time, haha. Also in this session, we got to use some really interesting gear, such as running a mix buss through a 60s EMI console – much like a console The Beatles would have used during the 60s. I believe Kurt Vile bought this console from Mitch recently. I know for a fact we were the last band to record on Mitch’s legendary main console before he let it go—a console that was used to mix the soundtrack of The NeverEnding Story. Reflecting on Double Take, where each song undergoes its own transformation across two sides, it feels apt to echo a line from the movie: ‘Nothing is lost…Everything is transformed.’ (shivers!) Recording with Mitch Easter at his studio is always a great time, and having detailed musical conversations comes naturally within the walls of the Fidelitorium. We can talk about things like… what kind of mic, amp, and reverb is needed to give this Hohner Pianet a period-specific, 60s sound? I love the energy of your band’s performance on the music video for “Say Yeah!”. Where was this video shot at, and how pleased are you with the final product? “Say Yeah!” was shot in the raw veins of our beloved Charlotte, NC in my backyard, a place as battered and beautiful as the tune itself. We filmed it right next to a very toxic, chemical-laden creek right across from – what I can only call – the apartment-ization and gentrification of my neighborhood and city. When we first moved here, we were surrounded by woods in… https://chorus.fm/features/interviews/the-eyebrows/

[tinydreamlatex]

The Irresistible Charm of High-Waisted Latex Underwear

Venturing into the progressive arena of intimate attire, high-waisted latex underwear presents outstanding style with subtle versatility. Despite their daring design, high-leg panties boast subtle flexibility. Their ability to blend smoothly amidst varying lingerie sets grants wearers the privilege of showcasing their fashion sense while still preserving an elegant and unified look.

Options for Personalization:

High-leg latex panties' adaptability is not restrained just to mixing within an assortment of intimate wear collections. With options ranging from pairing them with a matching bra or incorporating them into varied lingerie pieces, these garments set the stage for people to put together personalized ensembles that closely resonate with their distinctive style principles.

Appreciating Individuality in Intimate Apparel Choices:

The uniqueness lying at the heart of high-leg panties promotes freedom of expression within intimate apparel. This refreshing design entices individuals to proudly demonstrate their taste and character through crafting a customized and reflective collection dedicated solely to lingerie.

Stepping up Confidence while Ensuring Comfort:

Superseding simple aesthetic considerations, wearer confidence reaches new heights thanks to the excellent comfort provided by high-leg shorts. While providing a secure fit via its perfected contouring technique, this intimate garment permits unrestrained movement yet instills serenity within personal wardrobe spaces.

Bringing New Elegance in Intimate Designs Conclusion: Promoting refined attraction partnered with sculptural beauty - Latex High Leg Panties symbolize a transformation unleashing creativity inside women's intimate apparel scape designs. A growing number of people looking forward to expressing themselves through these statement-making attires augments it as a truly revolutionizing force amping up satisfaction levels twofold; both visually and physically characterized by its comforting nature nudging towards imbibing stylized independence in wearing choices, encapsulating empowerment mirrored through captivating displays emerging from avant-garde progressive underwear trends realm thus heralding evolution focused on confident presentation fused excellently aided use sublime sensuous modes expression cultivated craftsmanship just plain smart.

[rad-review-of-gigs]

Peter Hook and the Light, Joy Division: A Celebration. Brixton Academy, 10.07.2022

Beyond all this good is the euphoria

A greatest hits night at The Brixton Academy, with its ceiling that resembles the lunar surface, is in keeping with the music of Joy Division,  but for some fans, will have Ian Curtis turning in his grave, as the band’s bassist continues to tour the back catalogue, following his classical re-boot with Manchester Camarata in 2019.

Even a nuts and bolts celebration of Joy Division seems a contradiction in terms, especially in the height of midsummer, as the performance, after a brief aperitif of New Order, essentially charts the trajectory of a troubled singer’s odyssey to suicide as The Light segues from Warsaw material to the albums Unknown Pleasures and Closer in full. 

So little at first glance stacks up in the enterprise’s favour. And there is also the challenge of reproducing live those two albums which are  masterpieces of studio production, singularly crafted in 1979 and 1980 by Martin Hammett of Factory records. There was further grist to the sceptic mill as Hook’s voice failed to carry on occasions and the sonic intricacies and depth of space in tracks such as Insight and Wilderness were lost. 

Hook, of course, has every right to plough the reprise furrow, as he was not only a member of New Order and Joy Division, but central to both’s architecture and unique sound. Like Jacque Burnel’s in The Stranglers,  his bass functions like lead guitar; at the base of the fretboard for New Order and nearer the top of the neck for Joy Division. Hook makes a valiant attempt to ape Bernard Summer and Curtis’ vocal styles, even as he hangs over his bass like a sullen, dispirited gorilla or a costume of one hung out to dry, rather than attempting to mirror Curtis’ onstage echoes of his own epilepsy.

At other junctures he wields the instrument as a piece of machinery that’s capable of felling a redwood, legs wide apart to emphasise its heft. This is entirely fitting for the early DIY Warsaw tracks, grandiose terrors of Day Of The Lords and the explosive chords of Shadowplay; that come surging at the audience like the wrecking of an afternoon’s peace on a deserted country highway, by the onrush of a juggernaut. Just as they do on the original recording. The magisterial New Dawn Fades is also faithfully intact. Nevertheless at the interval the ledger records Unknown Pleasures as a somewhat mixed success.

As we process to Closer, whose original tone is one of inexorable fate being played out, a fait accompli like a Greek tragedy, Hook’s macho physical posture is at odds with Curtis’ even keener mental fragility. However, besides A Means to an End, its emotional punch is consumately transmitted. The atmospheric and ethereal Heart and Soul retains the album’s clean, crisp drum riff and The Eternal is just as heartrending as on the original vinyl. Paul Kehoe captures Stephen Morris’ distinctive drum patterns brilliantly throughout the night.

The set naturally concludes with Decades, building gloriously to its climax of lyrical beauty and abject desolation. Then the horde is pulled down the Academy’s famous slope, for a rousing encore of Atmosphere, Ceremony, Transmission and Love Will Tear Us Apart that creates sheer delirium, just had as it did with the New Order coda, Temptation, at the evening’s outset. 

To paraphrase Atmosphere, people like us did indeed find it easy, and we were, all said and done, by the end walking on air. Perhaps Curtis would have been posthumously cheered to have seen his brief but extraordinary contribution to the output of the post punk years still dragging forward the fans with its irresistible undertow. Salford Rules, read one of the amps. Hard to disagree on an august night like this.

Words: Adrian Cross

Images: Richard Gray

[automaticvr]

https://player.vimeo.com/video/858663402?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&speed=0&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=5178

Installation immersif touchant à la vue, au toucher, et à l'ouïe. Dimension variable ► Concept : L’Empreinte d’un Univers Insondable Plongez au cœur de «Nuits Cosmiques», une exploration audacieuse du concept du trou noir, où l’infini des profondeurs spatiales rencontre l’intimité de notre propre identité. À travers le prisme de la nuit cosmique, le visiteur est invité à contempler l’empreinte-pelage digitale, utilisée comme un motif graphique. Ce design unique sert de miroir à la dualité de notre existence : une combinaison entre le caractère infini de l’univers et l’unicité de chaque individu. ► Traitement et Médium : Une Immersion Multi-Sensorielle L’œuvre utilise la vidéo générative comme principal vecteur d’immersion, évoluant en temps réel en réponse aux interactions des visiteurs. Cette scénographie nocturne, accentuée par des éléments interactifs, transforme l’espace en un vaste cosmos digital. Le motif de l’empreinte-pelage se manifeste à travers divers médiums, oscillant entre réalité virtuelle et installations physiques, guidant les visiteurs dans une danse sensorielle entre le tangible et l’intangible. ► Superficie et Diffusion : Une Odyssée Universelle Adaptable à des espaces allant de 30 à 1000 m2, «Nuits Cosmiques» est conçu pour toucher une diversité de publics et de lieux. Sa flexibilité garantit une expérience optimale, que ce soit dans un espace intime ou une grande salle d’exposition. Sa portée internationale assure une diffusion large, invitant des spectateurs du monde entier à s’immerger dans cette rencontre entre le macrocosme de l’univers et le microcosme de notre propre empreinte. Immersive installation encompassing visual, tactile, and auditory experiences. Variable dimension v ► Concept: The Imprint of an Unfathomable Universe Dive deep into "Cosmic Nights," a daring exploration of the black hole concept, where the infinity of space's depths meets the intimacy of our own identity. Through the lens of the cosmic night, visitors are invited to contemplate the digital fur-pattern imprint, used as a graphic motif. This unique design mirrors the duality of our existence: a blend between the universe's infinite nature and the distinctness of each individual. ► Medium and Treatment: A Multi-Sensory Immersion The piece employs generative video as its primary immersion medium, evolving in real-time in response to visitor interactions. This nocturnal scenography, heightened by interactive elements, transforms the venue into a vast digital cosmos. The fur-pattern imprint motif manifests through various mediums, swinging between virtual reality and physical installations, guiding visitors in a sensory dance between the tangible and intangible. ► Size and Distribution: A Universal Odyssey Adaptable to spaces ranging from 30 to 1000 m2, "Cosmic Nights" is designed to reach a variety of audiences and settings. Its adaptability ensures an optimal experience, be it in an intimate space or a large exhibition hall. Its international outreach ensures broad dissemination, inviting spectators from all over the world to immerse themselves in this encounter between the universe's macrocosm and the microcosm of our own imprint.

[bluescarfvivi]

She knew his agenda. It was more than evident by his creeping approach, the soft tone in his hushed voice, and the delicate, physical gestures. This scenario was an all too common occurrence when the two blueberries found themselves alone, feeling that kind of way and in need of some desired attention. Vivi missed this, achingly missed their little teasing games. As bad as her flustered state completely spelled out the tumultuous turnings currently inflicting her body, she craved this admiration.

His admiration. His undivided adoration. Everything entirely fixated on her. And only her.

Each careful touch sent a shiver across her body. The more he provided, the more it drew Vivi into the encroaching embrace. Her lips quivered from a warm touch, and it didn't last long until her chipmunk cheeks dispersed the trapped air back into its natural environment. Its intended service, while short-lived, had run its course, now seizing the opportunity to fully accept Minato's loving declaration. Not just a one time deal either! And not a two time too!

If that's how he wished to begin their evening together...

She warned him...for good reason.

Minato's third kiss kicked that more devious side of the investigator into the foreground, immediately making Vivi coyly smile in their exchange followed with a very light, very mischievous giggle. Hands found themselves snaking around the other's back, gliding up and down in a rhythmic motion for a temporary moment. No, if he played this way, she needed to amp up the action.

"...well if that's the case..." Sudden movements brought Vivi's hands forward, grabbing Minato's collar enough to yank him further into her own personal space. One fluid motion brought both blueberries down upon their couch. Vivi took residence upon its comfortable firmness, and as for Minato his perspective gave him an entire display of one Vivi Kimoto smirking devilishly upward. Legs entangled themselves together with his own, and using her own built-up strength locked him in place. No escape for them! Not until both their cravings were completely satisfied.

"...I need a good helping to satisfy my own hunger..." He made for a perfect meal. Something sweet, savory, and a little spicy. "...and I believe I know who can do that for me..." Her hand took his chin, slowly lowering it until their lips hovered dangerously close together. She's such a tease!

"...my sweet, sweet blueberry mochi..."

As soon as this nickname he thought of specifically for Vivi slipped his tongue, just by the immediate reaction given by the female blueberry paranormal investigator, he could tell that it had really tickled her heartstrings, it was an adorable display, and the most he's ever seen her flustered before -- a sight he could definitely get used to seeing.

Despite the cute scene, as he moved closer and closer toward her, the more he could see this little gleam in her icy blue eyes -- a flicker of something more, a flicker that his grey hues shared with her. His smirk shifts into a small sly smile. After his index finger finishes gently caressing under her chin, his hand slowly moves up to cup her cheek, thumb gently rubbing just as Vivi finally seems to find her words soaking up the new little pet name Minato had thought of, and it was a perfect fit for her.

He listened to her speak, admiring the slight shakiness in her flustered voice, it became apparent that Minato was really enjoying seeing Vivi this way, it was a whole other cute side of hers, just another thing to love about her.

[{ 🦋 }] - "Exactly, it fits you well, and it's not too cute, you're the one that's too cute~"

He says, his calm relaxed voice coming out softer and more subtle since he was very close to her now, their faces nearly touching, the hand remains to cup her cheek the whole time she speaks, thumb teasingly brushing her soft lip, a soft chuckle at the little annoyed look on her face shortly after.

[{ 🦋 }] - "Sorry... once I get a sweet tooth, I don't stop until I get my craving~" With that, his other hand pulls her in close to him, his other hand finally moving off her cheek to rest on her hips as Minato leaned capturing Vivi's lips into a kiss, holding it, twisting his head a bit into it, their lips briefly part for a quick breath, but Minato is quick to claim her lips again, shifting to nibble her top lip, breaking, then boldly went in for a third.

[sciencespies]

Genetic Study Maps When and How Polynesians Settled the Pacific Islands

https://sciencespies.com/nature/genetic-study-maps-when-and-how-polynesians-settled-the-pacific-islands/

Genetic Study Maps When and How Polynesians Settled the Pacific Islands

Moai statues at the Rano Raraku site on Easter Island Weller / ullstein bild via Getty Images

Gazing across the sea for days on end Polynesian navigators often didn’t look for land, which was hundreds of miles away in any direction. Instead, they watched the stars, clouds, birds, waves and other features of the environment from their open canoes, using them to navigate from one unseen island to the next, repeatedly finding green specks of land in a blue sea that covers one-third of the planet. Eventually these great explorers populated the habitable islands of the vast Pacific and left future generations to wonder exactly how it happened.

The ancient voyagers left behind only faint traces for scientists to reconstruct some of humankind’s most adventurous journeys. Those things include clearly related languages on widely scattered island groups, sweet potatoes, stone tools and even, in a few places, towering human figures. Those stone monoliths have stoically stood for centuries, bearing witness to the skill of their sculptors but offering few clues to who those ancient islanders were, or how they got there. 

But in recent years it has become clear that the Polynesians left something else behind—their genes. Searching the genomes of humans on widely scattered islands and tracking changes has allowed scientists to map their epic journeys in time and space. Now, new research published today in Nature makes the intriguing suggestion that the Polynesians who erected those mysterious stone figures on islands thousands of miles apart were actually descended from the same group of explorers. “The fact that we find genetic connections between very different islands, but the factor that they have in common is the presence of this culture of megalithic statues, I think is a pretty surprising thing that genetics is helping us to discover,” says Andres Moreno-Estrada, with the National Laboratory of Genomics for Biodiversity in Mexico, an author of the new study.

Some of the same facts that made settlement of the Pacific such a challenge also created an unusual genetic history that has proven ideal for recreating Polynesian ancestries, and thus charting their voyages generally eastward across the ocean. Pacific islands are so widely scattered that humans lived on them in genetic isolation, and travel between islands by canoe was necessarily undertaken by small groups of perhaps 30 to 200 individuals, who formed a very small founding population on each new island that they reached.

Moreno-Estrada and colleagues tracked Polynesian ancestry by gathering genome wide data from 430 modern individuals in 21 key Pacific island populations from Samoa to Easter Island. Then they used computational analyses on these large numbers of modern genomes to track genetic variants down through the generations. Most rare genetic variants found in each settled island’s population weren’t carried by any of the individuals who made trips to future islands, and thus don’t appear in the genome of the new island’s population. Scientists can track the loss of these variants. And occasionally a few rare variations did move along to each new island, by chance, with an individual in that small founding population. Once on the new island those previously rare variants were soon acquired by all descendants of the small founding population and became extremely common, providing another genetic marker.

Tracking these key ancestral signals allowed the team to map human movement across the Pacific islands, and produce date estimates for settlement journeys by calculating the number of generations between genetic divergences.

“The genetic method used takes advantage of the serial bottlenecks that population experienced while settling subsequent Eastern Polynesian islands,” says Cosimo Posth, an expert in archaeogenetics at the University of Tübingen who wasn’t involved in the research. “This provides very good evidence for the order of the expansion.”

Modern genetic influences from Europeans, Africans and others exist on some islands but the team was able to use machine learning techniques to mask these pieces of the genome and compare only the Polynesian parts of the ancestry evidenced in the genetic code.

And on islands for which ancient DNA samples exist, the team compared them to modern genomes and learned that individuals living on those islands remain most closely related to ancient samples from the same island, confirming that the original population hasn’t been largely replaced by some later migration of different groups.

The findings chart a Polynesian settlement of the vast Pacific that began in the western Pacific, in Samoa. With their distinctive double canoes Polynesians then reached the Cook Islands (Rarotonga) in the ninth century, the Society Islands (Tōtaiete mā) by the 11th century and the western Austral (Tuha’a Pae) Islands and Tuāmotu Archipelago in the 12th century.

Illustrated above are distinctive monolithic sculptures crafted by the inhabitants of the Marquesas Islands (top), Mangareva (center), Raivavae (bottom left) and Rapa Nui (bottom right)

Zaira Zamudio López

Patrick Kirch, a historical anthropologist at the University of Hawai’i, Manoa, says the study is a good example of how evidence from linguistics, archaeological dating of habitation sites and artifacts and genetics are converging to paint a similar picture of Polynesian settlement. “They’re giving pretty precise estimates of colonization dates and in general those are fitting quite nicely with our new radiocarbon dating [of habitation sites] of the last 10 or 15 years,” says Kirch, who wasn’t affiliated with the research.

Most intriguingly, the authors suggest that the Tuāmotu Archipelago, a group of low-lying, sandy atolls that hasn’t yielded much in the way of archaeological sites, may have been home to populations of long-distance seafarers who went on to settle the Marquesas Islands (Te Henua ‘Enana) in the north, Raivavae in the south and Easter Island (Rapa Nui) by about 1200 A.D. On each of these extremely distant islands someone, settlers who shared the same ancestors according to the study, left behind a similar culture of remarkable stone monoliths. Those human images have stoically and mutely stood as testament to the humans who erected them—and perplexed later visitors searching for their origin.

Co-author Alexander Ioannidis, who studies genomics and population genetics at Stanford University, wasn’t even aware that Raivavae had stone figures like those on Easter Island. “We found the genetic connection first,” he says. “I was really shocked that this island we had found was genetically connected, but isn’t really well known, [and] also turns out to also have these huge statues.”

Patrick Kirch says the theory that one group of closely related Polynesians took monolith culture with them to far-flung islands over several centuries, will likely prove more controversial. Only a handful of islands host large stone monoliths but many others, like Hawaii, feature similar human images carved in wood, he notes.

“In my view it’s more a matter of carving human images, for various religious purposes or ancestor worship. So it’s a widespread cultural practice in East Polynesia, and just because some of them are in stone I don’t think we should necessarily make too much of that.”

Previous genetic research by the study’s authors concluded that Polynesians and Native Americans first met around the year 1200 in the remote South Marquesas, and the new research suggests that voyagers from the Tuāmotu Archipelago were the ones who settled those same islands during that same era.

It’s not known whether Native Americans ventured into East Polynesia, where the two groups met, or whether the settlers of South Marquesas already carried Native American genes circa 1200 because they’d first reached that distant continent. That raises the interesting possibility that Polynesians extended their eastward travels from Tuāmotu to the very end of the ocean.

The tale of Polynesian voyaging isn’t a simple linear progression in which settlers advanced across the Pacific from one island to the next. For example, they likely passed by Raivavae on their general eastward migration, and settled it some three centuries later by heading back to the west from Mangareva.

Polynesians also didn’t immediately give up long distance seafaring just because they had found and settled plentiful new islands. The study of language evolution suggests that there was considerable inter-island contact during the era when Eastern Polynesia was settled.

And some more concrete facts have also emerged as archaeologists have developed new techniques. X-ray fluorescence traces the stone tools found on numerous islands to specific query sources in the Marquesas and Austral Islands, showing that adzes and other tools were taken to far flung islands on long canoe voyages. “The archaeological evidence for inter-island contact now is very strong and people were moving around between these islands after they were settled,” Kirch says.

The question is how much those post-settlement voyages might have contributed to the genetic makeup of the individuals living on the islands today, and thus impacted the study conclusions inferred from their DNA.

The authors acknowledge that subsequent voyages between the islands occurred, but believe that in most cases they didn’t have significant impacts on genetics because of exponential population growth. When small groups of 30 to 200 individuals reached new islands stocked with nesting seabird colonies and unfished reefs, their populations likely boomed to thousands of closely related individuals sharing similar genetics. When a few double canoes later occasionally traveled thousands of ocean miles, carrying perhaps a few dozen individuals, they would likely have had little impact on the genetic frequencies of islands where they landed.

The picture drawn by Polynesian genetics doesn’t always agree perfectly with archaeological evidence. Estimates for the settlement of Marquesas, for example, are a few hundred years later than the earliest radiocarbon dating evidence of charcoal samples found at habitations in the Northern Marquesas.

For the most part, however independent lines of genetic, linguistic and archaeological evidence are generally converging to tell a similar story of what’s called the ‘short chronology’ of Eastern Polynesia. And there are more chapters to write. The Pacific is vast, and even genetic exploration of its islands and their settlers takes a lot of time and effort.

Moreno-Estrada’s team is next turning their attention to a group of islands with a high profile. “Who were the first settlers of Hawaii and where did those people come from,” he wonders. “That’s an open question we are going to explore.”

Explorers

Genetics

Indigenous Peoples

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